Cool(er) weather makes me want to run.
My body sometimes has other plans.
There is a rumor that San Diego is 70°F (that’s 21°C) all year long. This is a lie. It was as high as 90°F (32°C) just last week! Yesterday it finally cooled to a comfortable 72 and I decided to hit the trails in Balboa Park.
This is my favorite place to run. It looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book!
This run is in two parts because I accidentally ended my run when I stopped for the above pic.
The interesting part about the two part run is the huge difference in pace. My hamstring (not the one I tore) started cramping up. It felt like a ball that wouldn’t let go and it was so tight that it felt like it could snap any second. I have no idea what happened… I wan’t doing anything crazy or trying to sprint.
My theory is that it was compensating for the bad leg, but I’m not sure because the “bad” leg didn’t hurt at all. I’ve noticed that same tightness off an on for a while now, this run was just the most severe.
I’m appealing to all my runner friends: any ideas about what’s going on?
Enough about my problems though. Let’s talk food. Read on for my whole day of eats, and link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby at Arman’s today!
Breakfast:
The usual morning cocktail followed by my vitamin gummies.
Then came breakfast. I made Lindsay’s Paleo Rosemary Pumpkin Bread on Monday night, and woke up thinking about having a slice. It is SO good! Even Vegas approved.
We enjoyed a buttered slice with eggs and blackberries.
Lunch:
We happened to be in La Jolla and took the opportunity to stop by our favorite casual seafood spot, El Pescador. If you’re ever in the La Jolla area, stop here! They have a giant seafood counter too, so you can pick up something fresh to cook at home.
Vegas always gets the scallop plate. I always get a salad with octopus, add avocado. Except today. I branched out and ordered the Swordfish, and Vegas ordered half scallops/half shrimps. It was equally amazing.
Dinner:
We’re still making the balsamic chicken recipe I posted a couple of weeks ago. I prep the chicken and cut up veggies. Vegas handles the grilling. She has the patience to cook it nice and slow so it’s perfect tender and juicy. I tend to get antsy and crank the heat, which only chars the outside. #fail
We sat down to feast with a glass of red wine from out last trip to Napa.
Side note: Two thumbs up for that Keenan Cab Franc. I’m a little sad it’s gone! It was juicy and filled with ripe raspberry… the sweet kind you get in the summer, not those tarts ones. You know what I mean?
[Tweet “Running struggles (help?) and cooking wins on #WIAW!”]
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Less than two weeks until the shitshow ends US presidential election. I wish I’d stayed in Italy!
Have you ever had savory pumpkin bread?
Who’s in charge of the grill in your house?
This post is making me crave grilled chicken like crazy now. I’m so glad I bough a grill pan this summer—may not be able to have the real deal, but it comes pretty close in times of need : )
I used my grill pan all the time too… like this morning. It makes perfect bacon! 😉
I am here for you my running friend!! My first thought is you need more hydration since cramping and hydration are partners in crime. Second, maybe try a dynamic warm-up before you start your run to get the blood flowing more and hamstrings ready for the run. The internet is filled with ideas on that, as well as my blog #shamelessplug
Lastly, I’m sure you have the right shoes but, if they’re questionable, go to a specialty run shop and have a gait analysis done or maybe you just need new shoes?
If it’s none of these, maybe you just need me to run with you? 🙂
I am 100% hydrated… thinking the dynamic warm up may be there thing. I basically never stretch (I know, I know). And I LOVED your very timely post. Thankyouverymuch.
I’ll definitely take you up on a run together though!
You training for something?! I have a 1/2 marathon in less than 2 weeks and I’m so ready for my training to be done. The scenery looks amazing!
Nope, just trying to get back to running. I’m impressed with you distance runners! I think even my half days are over. Good luck!!!
I second Allie. Hydrate, maybe a little salt to help with absorption and electrolytes.
It is in the 40s and raining today, so our situations are a bit different.
And while I love me some swordfish… you know my feelings about octopus.
I thin Allie is right on with the stretching. I drink an assload of water. Ass. Load. 😉
Sooo… I have an idea. You com here – where it’s not 40 degrees – as we do a side-by-side comparison of swordfish and octopus.
Fall is my favorite time of year to run. We ran at Balboa when we visited San Diego! I do some dynamic stretching before a run, like leg swings and toe touches. Sometimes that helps my muscles warm up and helps with cramping!
I think the stretching is bog one for me… I never, ever do it. Thanks for the suggestion/reminder that I’m not invincible. 😉
Don’t even talk to me about heat. It’s been ridiculous in Phoenix like 10 degrees higher than normal. It’s a joke here that fall will never come. Tomorrow it may hit 100. It’s nuts!
OMG. I guess I can’t complain! That’s insane… it’s fun to be out here, but I do miss seasons!
Savory pumpkin bread sounds so good! I am all about savory thing lately. And I am actually usually in charge of the grill at our house, unless it’s steaks. I let my husband control those. Now that it’s getting dark so early and colder on the east coast I haven’t been grilling as much and already miss it 🙁
We’re lucky to be able to grill year-round here. I’m not looking froward to it getting dark earlier though!
I’m telling you, it’s been one of those years for me too with problems, injuries, etc. I feel your pain….literally! 😉 Hope you get it all figured out and back at it. And that bread….yum!
Oy… here’s to 2017 being injury-free! Or at least fewer injuries…
Amen Sister!
I have yet to get outside for a run now that it’s fall weather, but I really want to. Good scenery makes a huge difference! That sucks about your hamstring, though, hopefully it feels better.
Running has been really hard for me lately and my pace is all over the place. Hoping these cooler temps will help me
Same here! Cooler temps are always motivating. Hope you’re back to “normal” soon!
My husband needs to step it up and start grilling- our grill right now sucks though, plus winter is coming. That wine makes me want to go back to California (or Italy) haha. Hope your hammy feels better soon!
OMG… I could stay in Italy for the wine alone! 😉
I’d suggest a break from running and some yoga to stretch out the hamstring. Also I know you hate my suggestions, although I would like to point out, I am right. Love you.
You and that f@#$*^% yoga. You’re probably right. Grumble, grumble.
That pumpkin bread looks amazing!!! About a year ago I went through similar things with running as you’re experiencing. I ended up trying out CorePower Yoga and got addicted! It’s heated yoga and there’s even a weight option (Yoga Sculpt) which is my favorite. Not only have I gained strength, I actually can now run farther and faster than I was before!
Ohhhh… weighted yoga is a thing?! You might have convinced me to try yoga (that’s no small feat!).
Cab Franc is my favorite varietal!
It’s quickly gaining in my book… this was one of the best I’ve had out of California!
I saw the recipe for that pumpkin bread and I wanna try it so bad! A savory version sounds amazing!!!
I highly recommend it… Lindsay is a genius!
Cooler weather brings out the best in me too. But running is something I really struggle with. I hate it and love it at the same time. But walking, I can do! 🙂 No matter what exercise I do, doing something active for at least an hour a day keeps me sane. And obviously, so does good food. 🙂 Great post, fun eats! <3
Walking is so much this time of year too – I love wandering through neighborhoods and seeing all the Halloween decorations!
Fall weather is perfect running weather to me, it’s cool which feels perfect on my skin while I’m trying to knock out a few miles. My hamstrings are always an issue, they cramp up on my no matter how much I stretch, but I don’t let it stop me. That cloud egg looks dam good Laura. 🙂
I’m sorry your hams hurt too! It’s such a bummer; especially when it’s cooler out and you feel like you could stay out for hours.
Lucky duck to get to enjoy fresh seafood! You can certainly get seafood in Colorado, but it’s not quite the same.
I cannot tell you about the difference in pace because I’m not a runner, but I can tell you that I definitely empathize with feeling really strong sometimes when I go to the gym and feeling kinda funky other times. Either way, they do look like two beautiful places to run. That totally does look like Dr. Seuss.
I hear you… I love Colorado, but I usually stick to meat when I visit.
Apparently Dr. Seuss was from here. Who knew?!
I’ve never had savory pumpkin bread! That sounds interesting. Also, that wine sounds delicious! Is it 5 o’clock yet? haha
I 100% recommend Lindsay’s recipe. All of them… I’ve never made anything of hers I didn’t like!
I see a sports med ART who is basically the only thing that keeps me running. He is amazing and really in tune with what is happening in your body and why and then he does Active Release Therapy to help it. You should check the ART website to see if there is one near you who can help you out.
Ahhhhhhh! You are killing me. I miss my ART guy in Atlanta like I miss my family. I haven’t been able to find someone I like as much here. You’ve inspired me to renew my search though!
Are you on magnesium? I have a supplement that’s awesome for cramps too! Buy more importantly… butter and pumpkin bread solve world problems.
Yeah, I do my Natural Calm every night. I think I just need more bread. 😉